Developments in Yi

After the court order that day, in the ensuing week, a flurry of activity can be seen going in and out of Chengdu. Couriers arrived with heavier and heavier stacks of notes and proposals from all around Yi Province.

Fa Zheng had been swift in mobilizing local craftsmen to assist garrison troops to develop the farms and tilapia from the rivers have been captured en masse and placed in each field, with Fa Zheng proposing it be mandatory that every field that has water deep enough to raise fish to do so unless reasons are given for not doing so.

Li Xian readily agreed, with an additional stipulation that farmers can be exempt from delivering more than half of the seasonal harvest if the profits used from that harvest are shown and proven to local governing officials that they are used to buy roosters and hens as well as cows or oxen.

However, several military officials from various ranks have already written in, with Meng Da among them, that food reserves are falling across the board with this new initiative and if there were any attacks, they were afraid that they cannot last long in a siege.

Li Xian wrote back personally, stressing that given the tensions between warlords and Dong Zhuo, he did not believe that they would march on Yangping Gate and attempt to seize Hanzhong, which will be the most reasonable expectation.

As for the Nanman, he had no reason to believe that there were any issues. If anything, Li Xian emphasized that if the people starved, there will be hell to pay, giving the recent Yellow Turban rebellions as an example.

Li Yan, on the other hand, had submitted a stack of proposals that were submitted by aspiring entrepreneurs, ranging from mills to workshops and more mundane ones such as a carriage service to transport people to and fro.

"My lord, Li Hui is here."

Li Xian, who was reading the proposals and rubber stamping them, looked up. From his seat in the court, the silhouette of a scholar, who was bowed, stood there, beside a guard.

He seemed to be of middle age, with sharp defining cheekbones that almost gave the impression that he was skinny.

"Your loyal servant, Li Hui pays his respect to the Governor of Yi." Li Hui said loudly as he bowed once more as Li Xian waved the formalities.

"Li Hui, I have an impossible task in front of me and I want you to give me advice."

"Your servant, Li Hui, will do his best within his limited means."

"When the peasants in the countryside bring food to the cities, the roads are poor and filled with holes, forcing the peasants to take more time to reach there. Near the Min River, the land around it floods frequently as well, wasting time every year as peasants get a good harvest, lose everything and repeat it the next year."

"Li Hui, what do you think I should do?" Li Xian asked with a smile and Li Hui's eyes seemed to turn to the floor, his eyes closed, as if pondering what to do next.

"Roads can be constructed, but we can no longer rely on dirt roads which will be overgrown and when it rains harshly, it turns muddy and dangerous. Paving the roads is a choice but may be expensive. As for the Min River, there were suggestions to build a dam but the bedrock and surroundings are made of solid stone. It is not impossible but will take a long time to build the dam."

"I see. Then can Li Hui do it?"

There was a moment of silence, only interrupted by couriers to the side of Li Xian shuffling papers and ignoring the two of them.

"When there is a wise ruler, there will be subjects who strive to do their best. During the Battle of Xianling, Zhao Chongguo said, 'none other than me, Your Majesty's old subject.' I humbly overestimate my ability and hope that your lordship will consider me." Li Hui bowed and Li Xian laughed heartily.

Sometimes, capable men know they are capable and this was one of the moments.

"Do both at the same time, you can argue with Zhang Song about the money. Go find the Taoist alchemists, I read that they had mixed something for immortality but had blown their houses down. See if that will work in roadworks and building the dam."

Actually, the Chinese discovery of gunpowder was officially in the Tang Dynasty under a Taoist text for the recipes of elixirs. However, it has existed way before that, in the form of bombs and fire arrows for military applications, as early as the Song Dynasty and in other texts referencing saltpeter and sulfur in various alchemical applications.

Li Hui accepted the order and left.

Zhang Song, in the hours to come, sought an audience with Li Xian, instantly whining about how money was being used like water flowing through a river.

"My lord, we will be registering an income lesser than anything in the history of Yi! At this rate, we will have little money left, please reconsider or tighten your spending practices!"

Li Xian shook his head. He knew Zhang Song meant well but he could not tighten it, especially at this juncture.

"My dear sir, this means we still have an income right? And I'm sure with your shrewd practices, we still have savings. Let us just try this for a year. If it doesn't work, I give you my word that I will stop everything."

Zhang Song, seeing that his lord was stubborn, sighed.

"Very well, my lord, I, your servant, will follow your orders but please do not cry to me when there is no money in the treasury!" Zhang Song sighed once more in an exaggerated manner.

However, fundamentally, there was something stirring beneath the foundations of Yi Province now. There was a surge of energy as money poured out from the government and into development. Farmers had saved money on seeds and used that money to purchase more food or more farming tools and luckier ones bought something nice for their family.

Those they had purchased these from, be it stall owners and others also found out that a neighbour or a relative had started a business on government loans and there was an outpouring of demand for raw materials for construction and many other services.

The gears of the economy had begun kicking in, an unstoppable march of the free market.